While most Mets fans are hotly debating the Pete Alonso/Dom
Smith first base question, others are actively campaigning for various relief
pitchers to make the roster, while another plurality is obsessing over the
first right handed center fielder off the bench (Broxton, despite Lagares’
salary).
Another somewhat under the radar debate concerns the backup
catcher position where the Mets have somewhat of an embarrassment of brittle
riches in Wilson Ramos, Travis d’Arnaud and Devin Mesoraco. Obviously the offensive-oriented Ramos is the
starter and will get the lion’s share of the time, health pending. The question is who gets handed the ball on
the days when Ramos needs a break.
Travis d’Arnaud came to the Mets as the centerpiece of the R.A.
Dickey trade. There was a low level prospect
named Noah someone or other who turned out to be a pretty fair country
pitcher. TdA has always shown flashes of
what everyone expected when he was dealt.
In the World Series year of 2015 he delivered 12 HRs and 41 RBIs in just
239 ABs. In 2017 he was even more
productive, with 16 HRs and 57 RBIs over 348 ABs. Therein lies the rub…like a certain flashy
centerfielder, he’s been unable to stay on the diamond to realize his full
potential. In addition, while d’Arnaud
has terrific pitch framing skills and is generally adept at the fielding his
position, his ability to throw out baserunners calls to mind Mike Piazza’s
struggles in that regard. You could
tolerate it in the case of Piazza who provided Hall of Fame offense and durability. Not so much from TdA.
Devin Mesoraco has had higher peaks and lower lows than
TdA. He was an All Star in 2014 batting
.273 with 25 HRs and 80 RBIs. Even then
Mesoraco battled health issues as he only had 384 ABs. He got a nice contract extension based upon
that terrific season, but he’s also had a very difficult time staying on the
field and remaining healthy enough to produce anywhere near that level. Last year after arriving from the Reds in the
Matt Harvey trade Mesoraco hit 10 HRs and drove in 30 in just 203 ABs. Extrapolated over a full season and you’re
looking at that 2014 type of production.
However, towards the end of the year Mesoraco again missed time with
neck issues. He proved to be a visible
leader behind the plate, preparing diligently for every game and became Jacob
deGrom’s personal catcher during his Cy Young Season.
Contract statuses for each are where it gets tricky. The Mets tendered arbitration-eligible Travis
d’Arnaud a $3.7 million contract for the 2019 season. Rules permit the Mets to cut TdA and only be
responsible for a very small portion of his salary. He would then become a free agent and eligible
to sign with anyone. They could disable
him until he’s proven ready to withstand the rigors of day-to-day work should
the need arise. Yes, he has caught in a
spring training game but it was well into the season and was not followed by a
2nd appearance starting. If
he can’t go back-to-back days, then they need to concede he’s not game-ready.
Devin Mesoraco was brought back on a minor league deal for
$1.7 million if he makes the team. Today
he has an opt-out if he chooses to take his chances at landing with another ballclub. The Mets can postpone this free agency until
June 1st by paying him a $100,000 fee and stashing him in the
minors.
There doesn’t appear to be a great answer either way. TdA is too talented simply to let walk away,
but there is bad precedent in Justin Turner, Wilmer Flores and others. Devin Mesoraco seems to be the better general
behind the plate and promoting him to the 40-man roster will cost $2 million
less than the contract offered d’Arnaud.
In an ideal world you would promote Mesoraco and stash TdA on the IL or
in the minors until he is ready to play every day.
Your take?
12 comments:
Mesoraco is not better than d'Arnaud who as you said, it too talented to just let him walk away. I say the Mets should just pay the 100K and keep him in AAA for another month. By then, the direction the Mets should take will be a lot clearer.
d'Arnaud could still bring back something of value if he proves he can play back to back days.
d'Arnaud has been having a good spring - part of our problem is some of his at bats and catching occurs in non-official games, so it is hard to know how well the arm is doing, although a few weeks ago, when he did catch, Callaway said that between innings, Travis was firing bullets down to 2B. I really do like the Ramos/d'Arnaud duo, who could combine to hit 30 HRs and drive in over 100 if they stay healthy. Something, I am aware, Mets catchers rarely seem to do.
One gets hurt, call Mesoraco up.If TDA and Ramos are going great guns on June 1, move Mesoraco out and hope that Lasik-improved Nido is hitting enough to be the back up.
I would try and trade Darnaud before his salary kicks in for some low level guy, if you can’t then drop him. I would of rather spent that extra money on Gio Gonzalez then to keep him around. If he turns into the next coming of Justin Turner good for him, because it wouldn’t of happened here. Also in a few days some other defensive minded catcher can be signed to a minors contract when the season starts.
Per Mike Puma: Devin Mesoraco could be headed elsewhere if the Mets don’t plan to place him on the 25-man roster.
The veteran catcher, who returned to the team in the offseason on a minor league deal, has an “upward mobility” clause in his contract that can be exercised Wednesday. If the Mets don’t tell Mesoraco he is on the team by then, he has a 72-hour window to find a major league job.
Puma added that d'Arnaud will catch and play the entire back-to-back games Thursday and Friday to see if he can handle it, then decide.
Morning Fellas:
Sorry Thomas I completely disagree with you.
Mesoraco is the catcher Degrom likes and wants to pitch too.
That far outweighs whatever production you believe d'Arnaud can outhit mesoraco with.
I also believe Mesoraco and Ramos would provide 30/100, with proper rest those two should stay healthy and both perform at there All-Star years.
D'Arnaud is too much of a risk ,wherein this franchise has made the mistakes before.
IMO i'd keep DeGrom happy and let him throw to the guy he has the best relationship with. I don't care if Mesoraco hits .150 aslong as Jacob is happy.
Furthermore Mesoraco is the 2019 version of Todd Pratt
Good day guys
Steve
Steve, I disagree.
deGrom had his ridiculously mediocre win-loss record last year due to a severe lack of hitting. If I were Jake, I'd want the booming bat of Ramos in there every time I pitched.
Also, I was at a game in Auguest where a Mesoraco passed ball basically cost Jake a game against the Giants, so he is not perfect either.
I prefer hitting from my catcher, and I think TDA (if healthy, but Mesoraco is another fragile dude) is the better hitter. All this, however, is based on TDA's arm not being worsened by the surgery - I would sure hope TDA comes back throwing better, not worse. Who knows if TDA's throwing issues were partly due to a lingering problem elbow that affected his throwing and finally gave way.
Lastly, in 2018 in the majors and minors, TDA had just 2 passed balls in 102 games at catcher, which is darned good. Eleven errors over the same stretch is not terrible.
Ugh......TDA just reeks of unfulfilled promise, which is largely due to injuries (sad).
He is a solid #2, I guess, but he is getting paid like a starter so what do you do? Mesoraco can give you
the same basic thing and he is much cheaper.
Maybe someone takes a shot on TDA in a small trade?
Otherwise, I like the idea of keeping both (if Mesoraco can go to Syracuse to start the year) until
the situation sorts itself out (my money is on another TDA injury, unfortunately).
Mike, here is Mesoraco in 2017 and 2018:
.218/.310/.395, not good.
Just 3 errors in 107 games, very good.
12 PBs - not good.
21 of 95 caught stealing 22% - pretty d'Arnaud equivalent.
I just think d'Arnaud gives you about the same D but more like .250/.320/.450.
So I prefer d'Arnaud.
TDA is not ready to be depended on and has only had 16 plate appearances so far. This, thenoptions:
-If TDA agrees to opening on the DL and staying in extended spring training, then he can make his $3.6MM salary. The Mets would need to feel very secure that TDA would be able to perform at some point in the first half or why pay the money? If they aren’t secure, you cut him.
-If TDA refuses the plan, he can be released to enjoy his 1/6th of the $3.5MM, and hope that teams that won’t even sign healthy and accomplished players to MLB deals, will give one to a catcher that has never had greater than a 1.6 bWAR. Good luck there.
– The Mets can carry all three catchers, just because, and option a very deserving player… the dumbest plan on the planet.
Texas Gus, I think Travis has been getting a lot of ABs in back-field games. And some catching time, too. How he has done on those, I do not know.
Your plan is not an unreasonable one - but we only have until the weekend to find out if it is door # 1, 2, or 3.
I prefer Travis over Mesaroco.
I'm seeing complaints about the Yankees signing Gio for $3 million. Why not the Mets? And so on.
It requires a radical misreading to think so.
First, Gio's POV: He wants to pitch in the majors. The Mets do not have that opening. Now some fans may want the club to dump Vargas or Matz, but that's not happening.
Second, Wilpons still own the team. Money is money.
Third, in Yankee contract, Gio earns $300,000 per start as bonus money -- up to $9 million. So if you are sitting there thinking the Mets should have signed Gio -- to pitch for the NY Mets -- it would have cost serious money.
Not happening.
Jimmy P
Mesoraco exercises his upward mobility clause and declares himself available to the other 29 teams. Should someone choose to add him to their 25 man roster, the Mets could still retain him by adding him to their 25 man roster. We shall see...
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